English poetry

PoetsBiographiesPoems by ThemesRandom Poem
The Rating of PoetsThe Rating of Poems

Poem by Thomas MacDonagh


In Absence


Last night I read your letters once again--
Read till the dawn filled all my room with grey;
Then quenched my light and put the leaves away,
And prayed for sleep to ease my heart's great pain.
But ah! that poignant tenderness made vain
My hope of rest -- I could not sleep or pray
For thought of you, and the slow, broadening day
Held me there prisoner of my throbbing brain.

Yet I did sleep before the silence broke,
And dream, but not of you -- the old dreams rife
With duties which would bind me to the yoke
Of my old futile, lone, reluctant life:
I stretched my hands for help in the vain strife,
And grasped these leaves, and to this pain awoke. 



Thomas MacDonagh


Thomas MacDonagh's other poems:
  1. In Dread
  2. The Song of Joy
  3. I Heard a Music Sweet To-day
  4. The Rain It Raineth
  5. Averil


Poems of the other poets with the same name:

  • Sidney Lanier In Absence ("The storm that snapped our fate's one ship in twain")

    Poem to print Print

    1220 Views



    Last Poems


    To Russian version


  • Ðåéòèíã@Mail.ru

    English Poetry. E-mail eng-poetry.ru@yandex.ru